On the Moon's "Lightning," Xing Yuanche and Ma Rao have broken through the Eclipse Men's layered defenses and are closing in on the largest mothership.
The mothership resembles a massive black tumor, its surface covered in writhing tendrils. The core glows with an ominous purple light—the sign that the superweapon is charging.
"Emotion Amplifier Cannon, full power attack on the core!" Xing Yuanche ordered.
The Lightning's main cannon recharged, firing a golden beam infused with humanity's protective will that struck the mothership's core. However, the mothership's energy shield proved exceptionally resilient; the beam created only ripples upon impact, inflicting no substantial damage.
"No, the shield is too strong!" Mara said anxiously.
Mo Yupan sat alone in the shadow of the tower, holding a white bone flute that had been with him for years. Legend says it was crafted from the bones of an ancient beast and can mimic the sounds of seven instruments. But only he knows its true secret: it can repel mental attacks. And right now, he needed that secret. Someone was invading his dreams—a Moon-Eroder skilled in psychic assault, trying to control him through his dreamscape to steal intelligence on Mingxuelu's defenses. Mo Yupan sat still with his eyes closed. But his fingers moved. He lifted the flute to his lips. No sound emerged—but that was an illusion. The flute’s melody wasn’t meant for ordinary ears; it was for the intruder. In the mindscape, the tune began: "Tonight, the Wind is the Keeper of Sleep." The intruder’s mental form trembled, twisted, and struggled against the melody. This wasn’t an attack—it was comfort. And that very comfort proved unbearable for someone driven by malice. "Ah—" The intruder screamed and was forced out of his dream. Mo Yupan opened his eyes, lowered the flute, and wiped sweat from his brow. "The wind tonight," he murmured, "is indeed gentle." He stood and gazed at the night sky. The Beyond Star shone brightly above, as if someone were watching him.
Just then, Qingmingzi suddenly appeared in the command room of the "Lightning". He had boarded the warship unnoticed, his white hair flowing under the cabin lights, his gaze as deep as the starry sky.
"Master!" Xing Yuanche and Ma Rao exclaimed in unison.
Qingmingzi skipped the pleasantries and said directly, "The core of the Star Gate isn't this mothership—it's the gate itself. To shut it down, you need a dual resonance between the 'Cinnabar Pact' and the 'Flood of Emotions.'"
"Cinnabar Pact?" Xing Yuanche paused.
Qingmingzi took a deep breath and began to recount the secret hidden for three thousand years.
Three thousand years ago, he was just a young man living in Atlantis—the legendary civilization that sank beneath the sea. That was when the Eclipse first invaded Earth. They didn't declare war outright; instead, they merged with humanity, granting select individuals "Star Marks" to serve as invasion coordinates.
Qingmingzi was one of the first Starbrand bearers. Yet he remained unswayed by the Eclipse Moon's temptations and chose to resist. During his struggle, he met her—Bian'an, a survivor from the previous civilization epoch. That era too had been destroyed by the Eclipse Moon. She survived, wandering Earth, waiting for someone capable of standing against the Eclipse Moon once more.
They fell in love, but war left them no time. The Eclipse Lord's army drew closer; the Stargate was about to open. On the other side made a decision: she would sacrifice her life to seal the gate and buy humanity time.
Before leaving, she marked the center of Qingmingzi's forehead with a dot of cinnabar. "Now, no matter where I go, you'll always be able to find me," she said. "When the Star of the Other Shore shines, that's when I'll return."
Then, she rushed through the star gate, using all her strength to temporarily seal it, and vanished into the endless void.
Qingmingzi survived, guarding Earth for 3,000 years until the stars on the other shore began to shine.
"The Star Beyond has risen," Qingmingzi said. "She is back, within the Star Gate. Her power is the key to closing it."
Silence fell over everyone. After three thousand years of waiting and guarding, it turns out Qingmingzi has been carrying such a secret all along.
"Master, what are you going to do?" Xing Yuanche asked.
"I must enter the Star Gate to reach the other side," Qingmingzi said. "Only the resonance of our two Cinnabar Forces can fully seal the gate. But I need your help—generate a surge of powerful emotions to temporarily suppress the gate's energy and buy me time to enter."
Ma Rao immediately said, "I'll unleash the lightning to support the emotional torrent!"
Xing Yuanche nodded. "I will mobilize all Alliance resources to ensure your safety!"
Qingmingzi looked at them and smiled, the first truly relieved smile in three thousand years. "Thank you. This time, I won't let her face it alone again."
Inside the "Lightning" ship's energy bay, a translucent figure slipped in unnoticed. Yi Sheng placed their hand on the energy core, a look of murderous madness flashing in their eyes.
"Emotional surge... Cinnabar Pact..." she whispered, her purple dress fluttering in the energy pod's faint glow. "When you launch, I'll detonate this pod. Everyone will perish along with the Star Gate! Xuanlin belongs only to me. If I can't have him, no one will!"
A purple curse energy began to gather in the palm of her hand.